Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-10
che DeFuniak RESOLUTIONS.


The Coast Defense Convention, which
met at DeIruniak Springs, Fla, on Tues
day, spoke strongly in favor of beginning
at once the work of certifying our defense
less seacoast cities. There IS no doubt
very strong sentiment in favor of putting
the country in a condition to defend itself
in the event Of war. The letter written
by Samuel j. Tilden, a few months before
his death, to Speaker Carlisle, urging
Congress to make liberal appropriations
for coast defense purposes, has not been
without its effect. 1t made = profound
impression-so profound, indeed, that ii
the Democratic party were to adopt a
liberal policy with respect to coast de-
lenses and the navy it would be sustained
by the country.
On Monday the Senate passed two bills,
appropriatng $21, OOO,0 600 for guns and
forts, which were not carefully consid.
cred by that body. One of them appro-
PIRATES $S,000,000, to be available during
the next six years, for the making OF
heavy guns at government gun factory
to be built at Watervliet, n. Y. The same
bill appropriates $5,000.000 for building
forts for the protection of sea coast cities.
The other bill appropriates SS,000,000 for
the construction of heavy guns at Wash
ington for the navy.
These two bills are Republican meas
ures, and were hurried through the Sem
ate with the hope, doubtless, OF getting
whatever credit there is to be obtained
from policy calling for big appropria-
tions for fortifylng the coasts and build
ing navy. The main purpose, of
the Republicans, however, is
to exhaust the surplus revenue
by extrayagant appropriations for PEN
sions and other things, SO as to prevent
a reduction of the tariff. If they succeed
they will taunt the Democratic party
with extravaganza, and insist that it Is
not q party to be- intrusted with the con =
troll OF the government.
The Republican party, therefore, is not
Influenced by patriotic motives in favor
ing large appropriations for pensions and
coast defenses, but by desire to drive
the Democratic party from power. The
Democratic party is bound to move slowly
and to watch it's wary and INSCRIPTIONS
opponent. There is already bill appro-
priating $4,000, 900 for coast defenses in a
committee of conference. There is a
deadlock in the committee, because the
Democrats think that the officials who
have charge Of the work of constructing
Notifications are incompetent, and insist
that they shall be replaced with others,
while the Republicans are determined
that they shall be retained. From this it
would appear that the Republicans would
like to make the Democrats waste as
much money as possible without accom-
plIshing anything.
1t will be noticed that all of the $21, 000,-
900 appropriated by the two Senate bills
is to be spent at the North. The resolu-
tons adopted at DeFunIak on Tuesday
point out that iron, steel and wood can be
obtained at less cost at the South than at
the North, and that 1t is not a wise plan
TO have only one plant for the manufac-
ture OF heavy guns. If the Republican
party is permitted to control in the mat
ter not a cent of the millions for guns
and war ships will be spent in the South.
While, therefore, the country favors a
slronS navy anu coasI iorIinCAtlOhS, Ine
Democratic party is not to be blamed if
it does not move as fast in securing them
as the people seem to think it ought. 1t
wants the people to have the worth OF
their money, and it doesn't propose to
give It's political enemies chance TO sus-
tain a charge against 1t OF reckless ex.
travagance. 1t can be depended upon.
n tho AomaphS nF ho
people, and, that too, in good time.